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Time to check out more than books

Former bookmobile lady and Bunnell library branch coordinator to retire.

Linda Crego's 20-plus year career with the Flagler County Public Library started with a job advertisement in the newspaper.

“I was working at Avis in Daytona Beach and saw an ad for the bookmobile,” Crego said. “It sounded like something I would like, so I applied.”

The bookmobile was not as popular as library staff hoped, so the program was discontinued, and another opportunity presented itself - the opening of a library branch in Bunnell.

Once a post office, and then a law library strategically located next to the old courthouse, the new Bunnell library branch was a mess. Crego had her new job as library coordinator cut out for her, and her first weeks were tough. For most of her career she has been the only employee at the library branch.

Crego prevailed and the library flourished. Initially stocked with some law journals and only 30 boxes of books, the shelves are now filled, and the branch is running out of space.

Her last day is Friday, Sept. 18 and she is ready to hit the road – literally. She and her husband, Richard, are heading west to visit family.

Richard Crego retired from Flagler County Fire and Rescue two years ago.

“He's patiently waited for me to retire,” she said. “This is going to be the first time we will have no time constrictions. We don't know when we are coming back.”

Helping people enjoy their library was always Linda Crego's focus and she was always going above and beyond to share the joy of reading.

She recalled one woman who would come to the bookmobile and check out children's books, not for her kids, for herself. Crego would sit on the bench by the bookmobile and tutor her in reading. The last time she saw the woman, she was checking out an armload of paperback books.

“I look back and I can honestly say this is the best job I have had in my life,” Crego said.

Her library patrons have extended beyond the residents of Bunnell.

“We get residents from Bunnell, Seminole Woods and Plantation Bay,” she said. “They come to us rather than making the trip to the main library.”

Even as her days behind the stacks are dwindling, Crego still worries about the people who don't use the services the library has to offer.

“We have resources that many aren't aware of,” she said. “Free databases to earn GEDs and college prep courses.”

While looking forward to having no schedule, and traveling to be with friends and family in Texas, Crego said she will definitely miss the library.

“I have made some terrific friends,” she said. “They came in the door as patrons, and out the door as friends.”